Hydrocarbon-lighting system.



A. B. LOWRY.

Patented June 20, 1911.

1 W WW 0 m. w 9N \N L N B El 1 HYDROGABBON LIGHTING SYSTEM. APPLICATION rum) 11110.21, 1909. 995,882.

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I To all whom it may concern:

"UITED STATES man" ALAMANDER B. LOWRY, OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA.

HYDROCARBON-LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Patented June 20, 1911.

Application filed December 21, 1909. Serial No. 534,356.

Be it known that I, ALAMANDER B. Lower, a citizen of the Un ted States, residing at Fort Pierce, in the county of St. Lucie and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in H drocarbon-Lighting Systems, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon lighting systems of that character in which the hydrocarbon is confined with a body of air under pressure in a tank and the carbureted air flows therefrom to the burner or burners.

The object of the invention is to provide a lighting system of this character in which an auxiliary tank in communication with the pressure tank is provided for' holding a body of hydrocarbon to be supplied to said pressure tank, whereby the necessity of opening the pressure tank and allowing of the escape of carbureted air when it becomes necessary to replenish the same with hydrocarbon 18 avoided, and ,whereby a uniform.

pressure may be maintained within the tank, so that the apparatus will at all times be ready for use.

-A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the quantity of hydrocarbon and pressure of the carbureted air within the pressure tank may be determined at any time, and also to provide means by which hydrocarbon may be pumped from the storage tank to the pressure tank and air forced into said pressure tank through the use of a single pumping mechanism, thus simplifying and reducing the cost of construction and number'of parts liable to get out of order.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference bei had to the accompanying drawing,-in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of ahydrocarbon lighting system embodying my invention, t e pressure tank bein' shown partially in section. Fig. 2 is a etail section through the supply. pipe and three-way valve. 4

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a pressure tank adapted to contain a body of hydrocarbon 2, which may be supplied therein to a certain level, leaving a superposed space 3 for the reception of the carbureted air under pressure. The tank is provided with a gage 4 by which the level of the hydrocarbon may be determined at'any time, and with a gage 4 by which also the pressure of the carbureted mi'irture may be determined. Extending from the top of the tank is a feed pipe 5-for conducting the carbureted air to the burner or burners 6 in the system, in which any number may be employed. This pipe is provided with a coiled portion 7 which elongates the pipe to prevent the too rapid feed of the carbureted air to the burners in starting the system into operation, and to insure the thorough admixture of the air and hydrocarbon vapor on their passage, which ensues through the agitation of the mixture in flowing through the convolutions of the coil.

Arranged at any' suitable distance from the tank 1' is a gasolene storage tank 8 having a removable top or cover 8 which may be detached for supplying hydrocarbon to said tank whenever replenishment is necessary. Leading from thebase of this tank 8 to the base of the tank 1 is a hydrocarbon supply pipe 9 which is provided adjacent its point 0 connection with the tank 1 with a cut off valve or cock 10 by which communication between the pipe and tank 1 may be closed at anytime to maintain the pressure within the tank.

Arranged in the pipe 9 between the tank 8 and valve 10 is an air inlet tube 11 having a check valve12 therein. This tube forms an operating handle for a three-way valve 13 arran ed in a casing 14 disposed in the pipe 9, wit which valve the tube is in communication through a lateral passage 15. The tube when turned to a vertical position will adjust the valve to 0 en communication be tween the sections 0 the pipe 9 and when turned to a horizontal POSiiLlOII Will adjust the valve to cut oil communication between the pipe section leading from the tank 8 to the valve casing and open communication between the atmosphere through the tube and the pipe section leading from the valve casing to the tank 1. The valve 12 is of the ball-type and is movable outwardly to en gage a seat 16 formed by internally contractthe air inlets 17 and at the same time closing the tube against escape of oil. When the tube is turned to a horizontal position the valve is free to move inward to operate as a check valve for the pump, in which action it permits air to enter through the inlets 17, as will be readily understood. 1

A pump 19 is connected with the supply pipe between the cock 10 and valve casing 15 and is preferably of the type having a manually operated piston adapted on its up stroke to draw -in'fluid and on its down stroke to expel the same. Check valves 20 and 21 are arranged in the supply pipe respectively between the pump and air inlet valve and between the pump and cook 10, which check valves 0 en in a direction toward the tank 1 an close in the reverse direction;

In the operation of primin the apparatus for use, the tank 8 1s supp ied through its open top with a definite amount of hydrocarbon and isthen closed by its cover 8. 1 With the valve 1a in the position shown in Figs. 1 and'2 the cook 10 is 0 en and the pump 19 operated to draw gaso ene from the tank 8 and force it into the tank "vent return of the gasolene to the ta '1' until the latter is supplied up to the de- .sired level, when the cook 10 is closed. In

this operation it will be understood that on the suction stroke of the ump the valve 20 will open and allow t e hydrocarbon from the tank 8 to pass into the pump cylinder, and that upon the discharge stroke of the pump piston the valve 21 will open to allow the hydrocarbon to pass into the tank 1 while the valve 20 will close to re;-

After the tank '1 has been supplied with the space 3. I-n"this operation thecheck valves 20 and ,21 open and close m the manner heretofore described-to permit air to pass to the tank 1 and prevent its return. When the tank has been supplied with air to the desired pressure, the tube .11 is then again turnedto a vertical position and the cock 10 closed to maintain the pressure within said tank.

In the mannerabove described, the tank 1 may be replenished with hydrocarbon and air at fixed intervals or whenever required, so that, with a minimum expenditure of time and labor, the apparatus may be ke t constantly in condition for use. It will e understood, of course, that the air contained within. the space 3 is carbureted through its .passa e upward through the body of hydrocarbon 2 and through the commingling therewith of the .vapors formed by. the eva oration of the hydrocarbon, gasolene eing commonly employed as the fuel agent. Consequently by reference to the gages the condition of the apparatus may be at all times determined, and the escape of hydrocarbon and carbureted air from thetank will be prevented, thus obviating all liability of waste and the loss of time required in starting lamps to burn where waste of the hydrocarbon or carbureted air occurs.

. Asystem constructed as above described may be manufactured and installed at a low cost and easily kept in operative condition. By the use of the auxiliary storage tank, the necessity of filling the tank 1 directly with hydrocarbon, and the loss of vapors occurring under such conditions, is entirely prevented, thus reducing'liability of danger and increasing the 'efliciency of the appa: ratus.

I claim 1. A hydrocarbon lighting system em bodying a storage tank adapted to contain gasolene and a,- under pressure, a asolenestorage tank, a conductin pipe tween said tanks, an air inlet va ve in said p1pe movable'in one direction to cut oil the flow a body of hydrocarbon. and air under pres sure, a. hydrocarbon stora tank, a pipe extending between said tan s, a valved air inlet in said pipe, a cut off valve in the pipe between said air inlet and the pressure tank, and a pumpin device connected with the pipe between saldair inlet and cut ofi valve.

3, A hydrocarbon system embodying a tankfadaptedsto contam gasolene and air under pressure, a' solene storage tank, a conducting pi e tween said tanks a three-way va ve in said pipe, a hollow handle for said valve forming an air inlet In testimony whereof affix my signaand having a check "alve therein, a cut oil ture in presence of two witnesses. valve in the pipe between said three-way valve and the pressure tank, a pump con- ALAMANDER LOWRY' nected with the pipe between said valves, W1tnesses: and check valves in the pipe between the R. E. BRAY,

pump and'said three-Way and cut off valves. LIL-LIAN A. BRAY. 

